Part 3: Moving the Money
If you missed Part I of the story, or Part II of the story, here are the links. Sunday, January 17, Ari’s “person” will move him across the border to Nigeria for $1300. He has $108 on him. It’s time … Read More
Part 2 — So close and yet so far
We’re continuing with our story of the young Cameroonian asylum seeker we are calling Ari. If you missed last week’s beginning, Part I can be found here. Wednesday, January 6, 2021, as we all became transfixed watching the US Capital … Read More
The Saga Begins: Part 1
Part I: How to Determine the Value of a Man’s Life “What is a man’s life worth?” Nancy’s question made the three of us pause. Nancy, a local Vermonter as am I, ran the local penpal program that matched writers … Read More
Choosing Our Friends
A few years back, I did a post on “The Four Stages of Friendship” and promised I’d add another post about when Friendships end. Not through death or moving far away. The other kind of ending — the worst in … Read More
Hosting An Asylum Seeker
I’ve given a name to the initial phase in hosting any stranger in your home, for surely most come in as strangers. It’s simply: “What is this stranger doing in my kitchen?” The name comes easily — I actually had … Read More
Joyeuse Saint Valentin!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Lovers and Friends and grandmothers … Or, as they say in France, Joyeuse Saint Valentin! We in the US know how we celebrate Valentine’s Day: sentimental card first, always with a picture of a heart; styrofoam-tasting candy hearts … Read More
Seeing Ourselves Through Others’ Eyes: A New Series
This week, we’re starting a new series, one geared to bringing us back to the original mission of And So It Goes: to encourage curiosity in cultural differences and in the process come to know ourselves better. Over the next few weeks, we’ll hear … Read More
Sasha’s Back
Alpha mom is away at summer camp this week, so it’s me, Sasha, back again to cover for her. And I’ve been given carte blanche — literally. I can write about anything I want. She was planning to write about summer … Read More
What’s Your Bias?
We’re taking a long, slow look at bias — that set of unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that inform our behavior without our being aware — this week. And, given the news we’re surrounded with, it’s timely. My first … Read More